Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.
Median pay: $47,920/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -9% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 3,200 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
• Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
• Record operational information on specified production reports.
• Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
• Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
• Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
• Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.
• Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.
What's the median pay for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
The median pay for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $47,920 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Employment for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to change -9% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
About 3,200 openings per year, on average, over the decade.